I turned 59 on Veteran’s Day
No mile stone or big event
Just a quiet evening with family
Was the way that it was spent
Presents, cards, ice cream, and cake
With that special: “We Love You”
But I did receive something unexpected
That only God could have sent
“I got a special birthday present;
My other little girl came home.”

Now I’m not saying; “she’s here to stay”
Or that everything in her life’s OK
Or that she won’t leave tomorrow,
Or be gone some other day
I sure can’t say things will go her way
Or tell you that she won’t stray
But I can promise her this much
I’ll “Thank God” and for her I’ll pray
For “I got a special birthday present;
My other little girl came home.”

Now the “little girl” that I write about
In my poems for all to see
She hasn’t left, at least not yet
And no rush, as she’s a blessing to me
But my other little girl made up her mind
That she was old enough to be free
And set out on her own to do her thing
You know that “whatever pleases me”
But now “I got a special birthday present;
My other little girl came home.”

But someday she’ll be gone, and this time I hope
It will be when God leads her to.
And she sets out with Him, you know to do
“Those things that pleases Him,”
With our blessings to her “God’s best to you”
And our prayers that He’ll bless her too
And come whatever may, He’ll help you through
And hold you whenever you’re blue
But for now “I got a special birthday present;
My other little girl came home.”

“Thanks Lord, for bringing her home safely
And for loving each of us in spite of ourselves.”